Search

Alberta Climate Change Plan "Noble but Flawed"

OTTAWA, March 9 /CNW Telbec/ - Alberta's plan to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions is the right idea that penalizes the wrong companies.
"First, it doesn't recognize our excellent track record of reducing
emissions over the past 15 years" said Richard Paton, President and CEO of the
Canadian Chemical Producers' Association. "We started reducing greenhouse
gases as a priority in 1992, and are already well below Kyoto in this
industry. Alberta's announcement treats laggards the same as the best
performers in the world".
"Second, we are being asked to make greenhouse gas reductions by the end
of this year. This leaves no time for making the technological changes
required and the net result will be that Alberta won't see real emissions
reductions any quicker. Instead, Alberta companies will have to start paying
into a fund, which is essentially a carbon tax. Unless you shut down
production, there's no way to reduce emissions in a dramatic way overnight"
added Paton. "In contrast, the federal government has set out a schedule where
companies can upgrade their technology with each new capital investment over a
nine year period to 2015. In this way, real reductions can actually be
achieved."
The Canadian Chemical Producers' Association represents 65 chemical
companies who practice Responsible Care(R). Under Responsible Care, the
chemical industry in Canada has been tracking and reducing emissions of all
kinds, including greenhouse gases, since 1992.
www.ccpa.ca